Followers of Iraq’s Shi’i cleric Mahmud al Hasani al Sarkhi have been visible on the streets of Diwaniyah, challenging the actions of the Iraqi state under Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. Their leader, al Sarkhi, locally known as ‘the reformer cleric’ is widely famed for his bold political views and opposition to the meddling of foreign power, most notably Iran. His followers have suffered Iranian violence in Iraq directly.

​Three months before protesters stormed Diwaniyah, fateful clashes erupted in the holy shrine city of Karbala after an attempted arrest on Sheikh Sarkhi failed. In the clashed the broke out between security forces and Sarkhi loyalists, 45 people were killed. In 2006, his followers were also attacked for having staged a protest outside the Iranian consulate in Basra.

Protesters channeled their anger towards an a life-size effigy of Nouri al Maliki, which they hurled stones, tomatoes, and slippers at. Maliki is viewed by locals as Iran’s main man in Iraq, and the figure most culpable for what has happened in Iraq.

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